About us
Building Digital UK (BDUK) is helping to bring fast and reliable broadband and mobile coverage to hard-to-reach places across the UK - transforming people's lives.
Who we are
We are responsible for the roll out of gigabit-capable broadband and the expansion of 4G mobile coverage in hard-to-reach areas of the UK. We work with suppliers and communities to ensure that people can access fast and reliable digital connectivity that can transform their lives.
We work closely with industry partners and local bodies to deliver our two overarching programmes: Project Gigabit and the Shared Rural Network.
Project Gigabit is the government’s £5 billion programme to enable hard-to-reach communities to access lightning-fast gigabit-capable broadband. It targets homes and businesses that are not included in broadband suppliers’ plans, reaching parts of the UK that might otherwise miss out on getting the digital connectivity they need.
Watch the Project Gigabit explainer video for more information
As part of this, we are launching local, regional and cross-regional contracts targeting places not in line for a broadband upgrade as part of commercial suppliers’ build plans. The latest timeline for the procurement of these contracts can be found in the Project Gigabit Delivery Plan: summer update. This will be complemented by:
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Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme: Up to £210 million in vouchers to give eligible communities immediate financial help with the costs of getting gigabit speeds. You can check if you’re eligible for a voucher at your address on the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme website.
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GigaHubs: up to £110 million to connect public sector buildings such as GP surgeries, libraries and schools in hard to reach parts of the UK. For more information, see GigaHubs: key information
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Superfast Programme: Now largely providing gigabit-capable speeds, this will reach half the remaining premises that have slow speeds (sub 30 Mbps). Information and take-up data on all procurements on the Superfast Broadband Programme can be found in the table of local broadband projects spreadsheet
The Shared Rural Network (SRN) is a world-leading £1 billion government deal with the UK’s four mobile network operators (EE, Three, VMO2 and Vodafone) to improve 4G coverage and level-up connectivity across the UK.
The public and private investment in a shared network of phone masts will significantly improve mobile coverage for an extra 280,000 premises and 16,000km of roads right across our country – giving the UK the world-class digital infrastructure it deserves.
Improvements in 4G coverage will mean more people can stay connected, shop online and stream entertainment on the go, wherever they are in the UK. It will also power economic growth, helping people set up and run businesses from anywhere in the country. S
BDUK is chaired by Simon Blagden CBE and supported by non-executive directors Hazel Hobbs, Fiona Driscoll and Steve Unger.